1It is a positive commandment to offer the sin-offerings1 according to its statutes as they are written in the Torah.אמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לַעֲשׂוֹת הַחַטָּאוֹת כְּמִצְוָתָן הָאֲמוּרָה בַּתּוֹרָה.
How are the sin-offerings which are eaten2 brought? One slaughters the animal and sprinkles its blood in the manner described,3 skins it, and separates the eimorim.4 He salts them and casts them on the pyre. If he desires to place the eimorim in a container while they are being carried to the altar, he may. The remainder of the meat is eaten by male priests in the Temple Courtyard.5 וְכֵיצַד מַעֲשֵׂה חַטָּאת הַנֶּאֱכֶלֶת? שׁוֹחֵט וְנוֹתֵן הַדָּם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וּמַפְשִׁיטָהּ, וּמַפְרִישׁ הָאֵמוּרִין, וּמוֹלְחָן, וְזוֹרְקָן עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים. וְאִם רָצָה לִתֵּן אֶת הָאֵמוּרִין בִּכְלִי כְּשֶׁמּוֹלִיכָן לַמִּזְבֵּחַ, נוֹתֵן. וּשְׁאָר בְּשָׂרָהּ נֶאֱכָל לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה בְּעֲזָרָה.
2How are the sin-offering which are burnt brought? One slaughters the animal and sprinkles its blood in the manner described. Afterwards, one rips open its belly and removes the eimorim. He places them into a container, salts them, and casts them on the pyre. The remainder of the animal should be taken outside the city6 and cut up there as the burnt offering is cut up7 with its hide.8 The pieces are burnt there in the ash pile.9 בוְכֵיצַד מַעֲשֵׂה חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת? שׁוֹחֵט וְזוֹרֵק הַדָּם שֶׁלָּהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ; וְאַחַר כָּךְ קוֹרְעָן, וּמוֹצִיא הָאֵמוּרִין, וְנוֹתְנָן בִּכְלִי, וּמוֹלְחָן, וְזוֹרְקָן עַל גַּבֵּי הָאִשִּׁים. וּמוֹצִיא שְׁאֵרִיתָן חוּץ לָעִיר, וּמְנַתְּחִין אוֹתָן שָׁם כְּנִתְחֵי הָעוֹלָה בְּעוֹרָן, וְשׂוֹרְפִין אוֹתָן שָׁם בְּבֵית הַדֶּשֶׁן.
3There are three places where sacrifices are burnt: The first is in the midst of the Temple Courtyard.10 The following are burnt there: sacrifices of the highest order of sanctity that have been disqualified,11 the eimorim of sacrifices of lesser sanctity which were disqualified,12 the bulls and goats that are burnt if they are disqualified, whether before their blood was sprinkled or after their blood was sprinkled,13 e.g., they became impure, they were taken outside the Temple Courtyard before the time they were supposed to be taken out arrived, or their meat or their eimorim remained overnight without being burnt.14 גשְׁלוֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת לַשְּׂרֵפָה: אֶחָד, בְּתוֹךְ הָעֲזָרָה; וּבוֹ שׂוֹרְפִין פְּסוּלֵי הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁין וְאֵמוּרֵי קֳדָשִׁים קַלִּים שֶׁנִּפְסְלוּ וּפָרִים וּשְׂעִירִים שֶׁל חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת אִם אֵרַע בָּהֶם פְּסוּל, בֵּין לִפְנֵי זְרִיקָה בֵּין לְאַחַר זְרִיקָה, כְּגוֹן שֶׁנִּטְמְאוּ אוֹ שֶׁיָּצְאוּ חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה עַד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּן לָצֵאת, אוֹ שֶׁלָּן הַבָּשָׂר, אוֹ לָנוּ הָאֵמוּרִין שֶׁלָּהֶן.
4The second place is on the Temple Mount. It is called the birah.15 There we burn sin-offerings that are to be burnt if they were disqualified16 after they departed from the Temple Courtyard. דוְהַמָּקוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי - בְּהַר הַבַּיִת, וּשְׁמוֹ 'בִּירָה'; וּבוֹ שׂוֹרְפִין חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת אִם אֵרַע בָּהֶן פְּסוּל אַחַר שֶׁיָּצְאוּ מִן הָעֲזָרָה.
Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)
Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.
The third place is outside Jerusalem. It is called the ash-pile. There we burn the sin-offerings that are burnt when they are burnt according to their commandment.17 וְהַמָּקוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי - חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא 'בֵּית הַדֶּשֶׁן'; וְשָׁם שׂוֹרְפִין חַטָּאוֹת הַנִּשְׂרָפוֹת בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן נִשְׂרָפוֹת כְּמִצְוָתָן.
5It is acceptable for the burning of all of the sacrifices that must be burnt18 to be performed by a non-priest19 and at night.20 Any type of wood, even straw and stubble, is acceptable21 for the burning of all of the sacrifices that must be burnt outside the Temple Courtyard, as Leviticus 4:12 states: “On wood with fire,” any type of fire. Why is wood mentioned? To exclude lime or hot ash.הוּשְׂרֵפַת כָּל הַנִּשְׂרָפִין כְּשֵׁרָה בְּזָר, וּבַלַּיְלָה. וְכָל הַנִּשְׂרָפִין חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה - כָּל הָעֵצִים כְּשֵׁרִין לִשְׂרֵיפָתָן, אַפִלּוּ בְּקַשׁ וּבִגְבָבָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "עַל עֵצִים בָּאֵשׁ" (ויקרא ד, יב) - אֵשׁ מִכָּל מָקוֹם. וְלָמָּה נֶאֱמַר "עֵצִים"? לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַסִּיד וְאֶת הָרֶמֶץ.
6How is a sin-offering from fowl brought? Melikah should be performed on the southwest corner of the altar,22 as we explained.23 He should descend with his nail until he cuts the organs required for ritual slaughter24 or at least the majority of one of them. He should not separate the head from the body.25וחַטַּאת הָעוֹף כֵּיצַד הָיְתָה נַעֲשֵׂית? מוֹלֵק אוֹתָהּ בְּקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ, וְיוֹרֵד בְּצִפָּרְנוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּחְתֹּךְ הַסִּימָנִין אוֹ רֻבּוֹ שֶׁל אֶחָד מֵהֶן, וְאֵינוֹ מַבְדִיל הָרֹאשׁ מִן הַגּוּף.
If he does, he disqualifies the sacrifice and is liable for lashes,26 as Leviticus 5:8 states: “He shall nip off its head at the nape of the neck, but should not separate it.”וְאִם הִבְדִיל - פָּסַל וְלוֹקֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וּמָלַק אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ מִמּוּל עָרְפּוֹ וְלֹא יַבְדִּיל" (ויקרא ה, ח).
He then sprinkles its blood on the wall of the altar, below its midpoint. The remainder of the blood should be squeezed out on the altar’s base,27 as stated ibid.:9: “And the remainder of the blood, he shall squeeze out on the altar’s base.” One can conclude from this that when one presents the blood on the wall of the altar, the fact that the remainder of the blood is squeezed out toward the base indicates that “the wall” refers to the lower portion of the wall.28 וּמַזֶּה מִדָּמָהּ עַל קִיר הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לְמַטָּה מֵאֶמְצָעוֹ; וּשְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם מִתְמַצִּים עַל הַיְּסוֹד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְהַנִּשְׁאָר בַּדָּם יִמָּצֵה אֶל יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ" (ויקרא ה, ט) - מִכְּלָל שֶׁהַנְּתִינָה עַל קִיר שֶׁהַשְּׁיָרִין שֶׁלּוֹ מִתְמַצִּין אֶל הַיְּסוֹד, וְזֶהוּ קִיר הַתַּחְתּוֹן.
7Squeezing out the blood of a fowl brought as a sin-offering is an absolute requirement.29 All the altar receives from this offering is its blood. The remainder is eaten by males of the priestly family like the meat of an animal brought as a sin-offering.30 זוּמִצּוּי דַּם חַטַּאת הָעוֹף מְעַכֵּב. וְאֵין לַמִּזְבֵּחַ בָּהּ אֶלָא דָּמָהּ, וְהַשְּׁאָר נֶאֱכָל לְזִכְרֵי כְּהֻנָּה, כִּבְשַׂר חַטַּאת הַבְּהֵמָה.
8How should the fowl brought as a sin-offering be held at the time of melikah? He should hold its two feet between two of his fingers31 and its two wings between his other two fingers,32 extending its neck over the thumb33 for a width of two fingers and then snip off its head.34 This was one of the difficult tasks performed in the Temple. If one deviated and held the fowl in any other manner, it is acceptable.חכֵּיצַד אוֹחֵז חַטַּאת הָעוֹף בִּשְׁעַת מְלִיקָה? אוֹחֵז שְׁתֵּי רַגְלֶיהָ בֵּין שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּשְׁנֵי גַּפֶּיהָ בֵּין שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּמוֹתֵחַ צַוָּארָהּ אֶל רֹחַב שְׁתֵּי אֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו, וּמוֹלֵק. וְזוֹ מֵעֲבוֹדוֹת קָשׁוֹת שֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְאִם שִׁנָּה, וְאָחַז מִכָּל מָקוֹם - כְּשֵׁרָה.
9Every part of the altar is acceptable for melikah, provided he sprinkles its blood below the midpoint of the altar. If he sprinkles it anywhere on the altar, it is acceptable provided he presents at least a small amount of the blood of the soul35 below the midpoint of the altar.טוְכָל מָקוֹם מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּשֵׁר לִמְלִיקָתָהּ, וּבִלְבָד שֶׁיַּזֶּה דָּמָהּ לְמַטָּה מֵאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְאִם הִזָּה בְּכָל מָקוֹם, כְּשֵׁרָה. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּתֵּן לְמַטָּה מְעַט מִדַּם הַנֶּפֶשׁ.
10The upper half of southwest corner of the altar would serve three purposes and the lower half would serve three purposes.ישְׁלוֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים הָיְתָה קֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת לְמַעְלָה, וּשְׁלוֹשָׁה לְמַטָּה.
The lower half was used for the melikah of a fowl brought as a sin-offering, approaching the altar with the meal-offering,36 and pouring the remainder of the blood of the burnt-offerings, the sin-offerings that are eaten, the guilt-offerings, and the peace-offerings upon its base.37מִלְּמַטָּה: חַטַּאת הָעוֹף, וְהַגָּשַׁת הַמְּנָחוֹת, וּשְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם שֶׁל עוֹלוֹת וְחַטָּאוֹת הַנֶּאֱכָלוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים שֶׁשּׁוֹפְכִין עָלֶיהָ.
The three purposes for which the upper portion was used are: the water libation on Sukkos,38 the wine libation of the accompanying offering of Sukkot,39 and the burnt offerings of fowl if there are many of them. If the southeast corner40 does not have the capacity for all of them,41 the priests would turn to the southwest corner and perform melikah there.42 וְהַשְּׁלוֹשָׁה שֶׁמִּלְמַעְלָה: נִסּוּךְ הַמַּיִם שֶׁמְּנַסְּכִין בֶּחָג, וְנִסּוּךְ הַיַּיִן שֶׁל נְּסָכִים, וְעוֹלַת הָעוֹף בִּזְמַן שֶׁהִיא רַבָּה, וְאִם אֵין קֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית מְכִילָה אוֹתָהּ - נִפְנִין לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית וְעוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ שָׁם.
11All of those who ascend the altar on the right side of the ramp,43 circle it, and descend on the left side except for one who ascends for one of the latter three purposes mentioned above which are performed on the upper portion44 of this corner. Those involved in these services ascend on the left side, turn to the left, to that corner, perform their task, and retrace their steps.יאכָּל הָעוֹלִין לַמִּזְבֵּחַ - עוֹלִין דֶּרֶךְ יָמִין, וּמַקִּיפִין וְיוֹרְדִין דֶּרֶךְ שְׂמֹאל; חוּץ מִן הָעוֹלֶה לְאֶחָד מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה בְּקֶרֶן זוֹ, שֶׁהֵן עוֹלִין וְנִפְנִין עַל הַשְּׂמֹאל לַקֶּרֶן, וְעוֹשִׂין מְלַאכְתָּן, וְחוֹזְרִין לֶעָקֵב.
Why do they turn to the left? So that they will encounter the southwest corner first. For if they would turn to the right and circle the entire altar until they reached the southwest corner, the water or the wine might become smoky45 or perhaps the fowl would die because of the altar’s smoke.וּמִפְּנֵי מַה נִפְנִין לִשְׂמֹאל? כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּפְגְּעוּ בְּקֶרֶן מַעַרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית תְּחִלָּה; שֶׁאִם נִפְנִין עַל יָמִין וּמַקִּיפִין אֶת כָּל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעוּ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מַעַרָבִית, שֶׁמָּא יִתְעַשֵּׁן הַמַּיִם וְהַיַּיִן, אוֹ שֶׁמָּא יָמוּת הָעוֹף בַּעֲשַׁן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
12Therefore when someone who performs a water or wine libation circles the altar,46 he should not have anything in his hands. He begins circling from the southeast corner, proceeding to the northeast and then to the northwest and the southwest. He should not be holding anything. When he reaches the southwest corner, the water or the wine is placed in his hand and he performs the libation.יבלְפִיכָךְ הַמְּנַסֵּךְ מַיִם אוֹ יַיִן - כְּשֶׁהוּא מַקִּיף אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּיָדוֹ כְּלוּם. וּמַתְחִיל וּמַקִּיף מִקֶּרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית לְמִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית, לִצְפוֹנִית מַעַרָבִית, לְמַעַרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בְּיָדוֹ כְּלוּם. וּכְשֶׁמַּגִּיעַ לְמַעַרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית, נוֹתְנִין לוֹ הַמַּיִם אוֹ הַיַּיִן בְּיָדוֹ, וּמְנַסֵּךְ.
If he does not desire to circle the altar, he may ascend the ramp, turn to the left, perform his service, and descend.וְאִם לֹא הִקִּיף - עוֹלֶה וּפוֹנֶה עַל שְׂמֹאלוֹ, וְעוֹשֶׂה מְלַאכְתּוֹ וְיוֹרֵד.
